Sept. 1/2010

Stay Positive - Jessica's Daily Affirmation












August 29, 2007

Schools as Learning Communities


Key Elements


· Ensuring that all students learn
· Dealing with students who didn’t pick up concepts the first time
· Analyze what works in your school
· Analyze what works for other schools and if it can apply to our school
· Adoptive strategies
· Focus on “learning” (student focused) as opposed to teaching (teacher focused)
· Teachers working together is more effective than teachers working in isolation
· Struggling students need to be encouraged to strive forward instead of “packing in it”
· Struggling learners require immediate intervention as opposed to depending on summer school, etc.
· Suggestions for intervention when classroom intervention isn’t effective
1. Study hall
2. One-to-one tutoring
3. involve stakeholders (teachers, parents, admin, and the student) in a contract
· Utilize in-house resources (experienced and innovative teachers)
· Measure student progress and re-analyze frequently
· Honestly report and confront the data
· Compare student progress from year-to-year
· Define sequential learning goals as a school in order to create a path to progression
· Target and remove barriers to success (act quickly)
· Teacher collaboration is vital to school success
· Professional Learning Communities is a philosophy, not a formula (what works for some schools may not work for others)
· Re-evaluate how things are done and challenge their ineffectiveness
· Don’t just work hard, work smart. If something is not working, strive to try something else that will
· Time to implement strategies and support during implementation is imperative
· Customize strategies toward the situation, be it for your school, your classroom, or individual students
This area will be used to post staff meeting agendas and discuss them accordingly.